Global Shakespeares

What is the source of Shakespeare’s enduring charisma and global appeal? In an age of post-colonial literature, contemporary authors from around the world have been drawn to the bard–whether to celebrate, parody, appropriate or re-invent his work. In this expert-led seminar, we will look together at a number of texts and performances and consider in particular how they might resonate for your students. We will discuss what these works can tell us about Shakespeare, about his protegees, and the cultures they come from. Our instructor is Professor Margaret Litvin, author of Hamlet’s Arab Journey: Shakespeare’s Prince and Nasser’s Ghost (2012). A translator and scholar, she is professor of comparative literature and chair of World Languages and Literatures at Boston University.